Social Security

Actions and Plans To Reduce Agency Staff Gao ID: HRD-86-76BR March 17, 1986

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) plans and actions to reduce 17,000 full-time positions between fiscal year (FY) 1985 and FY 1990.

GAO found that: (1) FY 1985 reductions were primarily based on savings estimates for various procedural and system changes scheduled for that year; (2) nearly half of the FY 1985 staff reductions occurred in SSA regional and field offices; (3) claims representatives, data review technicians, and clerical positions accounted for most of the staff reductions; (4) FY 1985 savings were 24 percent below what SSA expected to achieve from planned staff changes; (5) SSA performance data was inconclusive regarding the effect that staff reductions have had on public service; and (6) although SSA plans for reductions beyond FY 1987, there are indications that many initiatives in its plan may not produce savings to the extent anticipated.



The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.